Wind farms in Colchester, Guysborough counties get OK

A pair of wind projects in Colchester and Guysborough counties have received provincial environmental approval.

Environment Minister Randy Delorey gave the nod to ventures in Kemptown and Mulgrave on Monday, with conditions.

The Kemptown wind farm is proposed by Affinity Renewables LP. The Salt Springs-based partnership includes the Nova Scotia SPCA.

The project, which will have three 1.68-megawatt turbines, is slated to be operational in early 2015. The wind farm will generate enough electricity to power 2,000 homes annually.

Meanwhile, Celtic Current LP of Southwest Mabou received the green light to erect a single 2.3-megawatt turbine. The project, located in the town of Mulgrave, is expected to be operational by late summer.

Conditions attached to both approvals include a requirement to develop and implement a program to monitor birds and bats. The developers must also obtain provincial approval to build a watercourse crossing or make wetland alterations.

Both ventures are being developed under the province’s community feed-in tariff program. The program encourages First Nations, community groups and non-profits to develop small-scale renewable energy projects by setting a fixed priced for the electricity they supply to Nova Scotia Power under a long-term contract.